Bernstein Century: American Masters 2

Piston (Composer), Blitzstein (Composer), Hill (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Piston, Blitzstein, Hill
• Audio CD (April 11, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004SCUH
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,545 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Introduction - Siesta in the Market Place

2. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Entrance of the Vendors

3. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Entrance of the Customers

4. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Tango of the Merchant's Daughters

5. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Arrival of the Circus

6. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Circus March

7. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: The Flutist

8. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Minuet

9. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Spanish Waltz

10. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Eight O'Clock Strikes

11. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Siciliana

12. The Incredible Flutist, ballet suite for orchestra: Polka Finale

13. Symphony: The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus & orchestra: Theory of Flight

14. Symphony: The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus & orchestra: Ballad of History and Mythology

15. Symphony: The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus & orchestra: Kittyhawk

16. Symphony: The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus & orchestra: The Airborne

17. Symphony: The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus & orchestra: The Enemy

18. Symphony: The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus & orchestra: Threat and Approach

19. Symphony: The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus & orchestra: Ballad of the Cities

20. Symphony: The Airborne, for tenor, bass, narrator, male chorus & orchestra: Morning Poem

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Historically fascinating, if musically lacking, August 9, 2000

By 

Ahmed E. Ismail (Cambridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bernstein Century: American Masters 2 (Audio CD)

This CD may not contain musical masterpieces, but as a recording it is of enormous musical interest, particularly because of its casting in the central work, Blitzstein's Airborne Symphony.

People who have seen the movie "Cradle Will Rock" know that Orson Welles had worked with Blitzstein many years previous on the latter's anti-fascist musical. Thus, his appearance as narrator of Blitzstein's Airborne Symphony many years later does not appear to be so much of a surprise.

Welles's performance is histrionic at times, to be sure, yet it's not entirely inappropriate to the spirit of the music, which is intentionally bombastic. The music is decidedly uneven, with the final sections, starting with the "Ballad of the Bombadier," being the most enjoyable. Welles's grave, then manic, shouts of "Warning!" in the work's final bars have to be heard to be believed--you'll either come away terrified or laughing, depending on your temperament.

The other works are more or less fillers to the main work--competently performed and recorded, but nothing particularly exciting. All in all, though, this disc is of interest to afficionados of American music, and all those eager to learn more about one of the more unusual artistic collaborations of the twentieth century.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Broadway Meets The Symphony or Vice Versa, June 2, 2011

By 

James S. Eisenberg - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bernstein Century: American Masters 2 (Audio CD)

The program included on this disc features two composers that conductor Leonard Bernstein actually studied with (Hill and Piston), and Blitzstein who was a major influence. Marc Blitzstein's AIRBORNE SYMPHONY is an odd, broadly theatrical concert work that is neither really a choral symphony or a cantata. Essentially it is a pageant-like Broadway musical tricked out to symphonic proportions. It is very entertaining, but hardly profound. Written for tenor and baritone soloists, narrator, mixed chorus and large orchestra, it's topical purpose, to open up the second front in Europe, was negated by the fact that it wasn't premiered until a year after the cessation of WWII hostilities. It is grand, grandly absurd, and oddly touching.
The loveliest moment is also the most Broadway tinged, a touching ballad encapsulating a letter from an airman to Emily, the sweetheart who is waiting at home. (Beautifully sung by MET tenor Andrea Velis.) David Watson is the excellent baritone, and Orson Welles the sonorous, sometimes absurdly hammy narrator. The work is a mess, but an endearing one.
The fillers are the once popular suite from Walter Piston's THE INCREDIBLE FLUTIST, a rock solid and appealing example of American musical conservatism, and Edward Burlingame Hill's PRELUDE FOR ORCHESTRA, a fascinating example of impressionist style in the French manner.
The sound recordings are first rate.
There are good liner notes, but no texts for the Blitzstein.

4.0 out of 5 stars Bernstein at his best!, December 31, 2011

By 

Slasher "Fifth Continent Music Classics" (Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bernstein Century: American Masters 2 (Audio CD)

Each of the works, including the almost forgotten "Airborne Symphony" by Marc Blitzstein, are conducted with great passion and commitment by Leonard Bernstein. The New York Philharmonic performs them to their usual high standards.